Watervliet at a glance
- Population: a Census-estimated 10,170, placing it 85th among New York's 595 places (Vintage 2023 subcounty estimate).
- 2020 Census base: 10,377 people at the 2020 Census, the baseline for the trend below (US Census Bureau).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 2.0% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among New York places: 85th of 595 by population (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- Size percentile: it exceeds roughly 86% of New York's Census places by population (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: 42.7249, -73.7070 (US Census Bureau Gazetteer).
- Nearest larger cities: Troy, NY (2 mi); Cohoes, NY (3 mi); Albany, NY (6 mi); Schenectady, NY (12 mi); Saratoga Springs, NY (24 mi); US Census Bureau population estimates.
- Nearest smaller communities: Green Island, NY (2 mi); Menands, NY (3 mi); Waterford, NY (5 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Watervliet
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The advertised interest rate leaves out fees that the APR captures, which is why APR is the number to weigh; try the personal loan calculator before you apply.
Your credit, income and existing debts drive the rate a lender offers, while the term you pick sets how much interest builds on top.
Set the loan amount from the expense itself rather than the maximum you are approved for, and keep the payment within your existing budget.
New York lending rules that apply in Watervliet
The sourced rows below are the rules a licensed lender must follow when lending in New York, and therefore in Watervliet.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal usury in the second degree (Penal Law 190.40) | Interest rate exceeding 25% per annum; class E felony Source says: "at a rate exceeding twenty-five per centum per annum or the equivalent rate for a longer or shorter period" | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 16% per annum maximum civil rate (Banking Law 14-a; General Obligations Law 5-501) Source says: "The maximum rate of interest provided for in section 5-501 of the general obligations law shall be sixteen per centum per annum." | New York State Senate (Open Legislation) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Illegal in New York State, in person, by telephone, or over the Internet Source says: "Payday loans are illegal in New York State." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Licensed Lender license required (Banking Law Article 9, sections 340-361); administered via NMLS Source says: "The Department of Financial Services uses the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) to manage the Licensed Lender License." | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Source says: "Notify the Department of Financial Services at (800) 342-3736 if you believe payday loans are being made in New York" | New York State Department of Financial Services as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Watervliet
The order below is a sensible way to approach a loan in Watervliet:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in New York using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.